Photographic enlarging apparatus



Aug. 14,1923.

1,465,123 P. FRANKOIS vPHO'I'OGRAPHIC ENLARGING APPARATUS Filed June 15.1922 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

Aug.14,1923. l 1,465,123

P.FRANKO|S Y PHOTOGRAPHI C ENLARGING APPARATUS Filed June 15. 192? 4`Sheets-Sheet 2 noauto/c @Romania Aug. 14, 1923.

P. FRANKOIS PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGING APPARATUS 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJune l5.

.ag a? f 54% 72% T Gum/nego Aug. 14, 1923., y 1,465,123

P. FRANKOS PHOTOGRAPHI C ENLARGI NG APPARATUS l l a@ Vw quickly andeasily adjusted to produce the .Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

UNITED STATES PAUL ERAN'IKOIS,l 0F NANTICOKE, IENNSYLVANIA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGING APPARATUS.-

Applicat'ion led June 15,1922. Serial No. 568,535.

To aZZ 'whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL FRANKoIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nanticoke, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPhotographic Enlarging Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enableothers skilled in the 'art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

e present inventionl relates to an improved photographic enlar ingapparatus by which enlarged photo rapic prints may be made fromphotograp ic negatives.

The apparatus has many improved features of construction,` 4but itsprincipal improved feature is a mechanism by which the lens isautomaticall focused as the device is adjusted to prodiice anenlargement of the desired size. With the apparatus enlarged prints ofvarious sizes may be ma'de from negatives of various sizes, but inadjusting the apparatus to produce an enlargement of a desired size, thelens is automatically focused by an improved simply constructedmechanism.

The apparatus is constructed se that very little floor space in a darkroom would be occupied in setting it up, and so that when not in use, itcan be partly folded and partly moved to an out-of-the-way position.This construction forms another important fea-l ture of the invention.

The part of the apparatus which carries the light, negative and lens andwhich is adjustable toward and away from the holder for the sensitizedpaper on which the enlargement is made, has a vertical' sliding.

adjustment so that in using the apparatus, very little if any,cen-tering ofthe image upon the sensitized paper would be necessary.Furthermore, the apparatus is so evenly balanced that the parts thereofcarrying the light, negative andlens may be desired size enlargements.The even balancing of the part of the apparatus which Jcarries thelight, negative Aand lens is such that when this part is adjusted to thedesired position, it will maintain 'such position.

The apparatus is provided: with means by which a tinted border may beproduced around the enlarged picture at the same time lthe sensitizedpaper is exposed by the enlarged image thrown thereon'. This improvedmeans is such that tinted borders of varying degrees of sharpness and ofvarying shades or densities may be produced. t'.

The apparatus is of comparatively simple construction, is easy -tooperate and is thoroughly efficient and reliable in operation. i lItsnovelty consists in the various features of construction, and thecombination 05 and arrangement -of parts which are hereinafter describedand4 claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part ofthis specification. 4

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of av portion of an apparatus embodying theprinciples of the present invention.-

Fig. '2 is a front elevation of the supporting standard, illustratingthe slide to which the bracket members for the light, negative and thelens is fixed, partly in elevation and partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of ay portion of the apparatustaken substantially iii the plane indicated bythe line 3-3 of 4i 1. igs.4 and 5 are vertical Sectional views of portions of the ap aratus takensubstantially on the planes indicated by l'the lines 85 L1 4. and 5 5respectively of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the frame which holds ythe mask forproducing a tinted border upon an enlargement and for holding;` thenegative to be enlarged.

ig. 7 is a top view of the frame shown Figs. 8 and 9 are respectivelylon itudinal and transverse sectional views of t e frame shown in Figs.6 and 7.

Figs. 10 and 11 are top views of a frame carrying refiectors whichv areused in varying the density or shade of the tinted border produced uponthe enlargement, showing the reflectors in different adjustments; and

Fig.' 12 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe frame illustrated inFigs. 10 and 11.

-In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1designates an uprightsupporting standard uponwhich the various parts ofthe apparatus are mounted. The standard 1 is intended to be placed in adark room with its back against a wall and is intended to be anchored tothe wall -by any suitable means. It preferably rises constructed innumerous ways, but it is prefj erably hollow, of box-like construction,and has its upper end open.

At the front of the standard 1 are secured a pair of opposed uprightparallel rails 2 and 3. These rails 2 and 3 form the guides for avertically movable slide'4, to which is fixed a forwardly projectingbracket frame 5. At the upper end of the standard 1, there is revolublymounted a pulley 6 over which passes a cable 7 secured at one end to thebracket frame 5 and having a counterweight 8 suspended from its otherend and disposed for vertical movement in the hollow portion of thestandard 1. Pivoted to the frame 5 is a handle 8 by which said frame maybe raised and lowered.

The numeral 9 represents a table for supporting the sensitized paper onwhich the enlargement is made. By preference, this table 9 is hinged atits rear end to the standard 1 at a point a short distance above thefloor of the dark room and is provided with a foldable leg 10 forsupporting its front end. By this construction, when the apparatus isnot in use, the table 9 may be swung upwardly upon its hinge alongsidethe standard 1 and the leg 10 may then be swung downwardly so that theentire table ma be out of the way when not in use.

becured to the front of the bracket frame 5 in any suitable manner isthe box 11 of an enlarging camera. The upper portion of the box 11supports an illuminating device consisting of an electric light bulb 12and a reflector 13. To the lower end of the box 11 is secured one end ofthe bellows 14 of the camera. The other end of the bellows 14 isfastened to the front of the camera which carries the lens 16.

The front 15 of the camera is slidably connected to a slide 17, which inturn is slidably mounted between a pair of guide rails 18 and 19 whichare fixed to the front of the supporting bracket frame 5. The front 15of the came-ra may be adjusted along the slide 17 by means of anadjusting screw 20.V

Secured to the bracket frame 5 in any suitable manner is a supportingplate 21 upon which is revolubly mounted a worm gear 22. The worm gear22 meshes with a worm 23 fixed upon one end of a shaft 24, the other endof which carries the pinion 25.

vThe shaft 24 is mounted in a bearing 26 carried by the plate 21 and abearing 27 carried by the slide 4. Meshing withl the pinion 25 is apinion 28 mounted upon a stub shaft 29 carried by the 4slide 4. Thepinion 28 meshes with a rack 30 which is secured tov the hereinbeforedescribed rail 3.

Mounted upon the shaft upon which the worm wheel 22 is mounted andcoupled to the worm wheel 22 in such a manner as to turn therewith is acam 31. The cam 31 is by preference of the crescent-shape tlype andengages an arm 32 which extends aterally from one side of a lever 33,one end of which is nivoted at 34 to the plate 21 and the other end ofwhich is ad'ustably secured to one end of a link 35. T e other end ofthe link 35 is pivotally connected to a lug 36 which is carried bv theslide 17.

The cam 31 is mounted upon the shaft of the worm wheel 22 in such amanner that it can be removed therefrom and replaced by a similar cam ofa size for use in connection with a lens having a different focal lengththan the lens 16.

Mounted in any suitable manner in the box 11 of the cameraJ is a pieceof ground glass 37, the purpose of which is to dil'use the lightemanated by the electric bulb 12 before it reaches the photographicnegative.

The negative holder comprises an outer frame 38 which is mounted in thebox 11 of the camera in such a manner that it can be removed therefrom.The outer frame 38 carries an inner frame 39, which in turn carries aplate 40 of transparent glass. The glass plate 40 is mounted in theinner frame 39 in such a manner that it can be removed therefrom. Thenegative from which an enlarged photographic print is to be obtained isto be placed in contact with the glass plate 40 and held in place bymeans of spring clips 41. In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, anegative N is shown in place upon the plate 40.

In Figs. 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the numeral 42 represents a framewhich carries a glass plate 43. This frame 42 is mounted upon the lowerside of the frame 39 for adjustment toward and away from the same. Themeans by which the frame 42 is mounted upon the lower side of the frame39 consists of a pair of sprin 44 which are secured attheir'intermedlate portions to the frame 39 and which have their endshooked around pins 45 carried by the frame 42. In this manner, the frame42 may yield away from the frame 39.

Pivotally mounted between` its ends upon the lower side of the frame 39is a lever 46. The ends of this lever are. secured to bars 47 which areslidably mounted upon the lower side ofy the frame 39 and which carryinclined or wedge-shaped shoulders 48. The shoulders 48 engage pins 49carried by the frame 42 in such a manner that when the bars 47 areshifted longitudinally, the frame 42'Will be moved toward or away fromthe frame 3'9. In order to rock the lever upon its pivot, the frame 38carriesl an adjusting screw 50. This screw 50 is threaded through a lug51 carried by the lever 46 so that when the screw is turned, it willpull ox' push the lever 46.

The frame 42 is intended to carry a mask llO by which a tinted borderupon-the enlargement is produced. In Figs. 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings,such a mask is shown and indicated b the letter M. The mask M when usedis placed in contact with the lower side of the glass plate 43 and heldinthis position by means of spring clips 52, secured at one of theirends to the frame 42. The mask of' coursehas a cutout portion designedto be placed over the portion of the negative desired to be enlarged.vThe lower side of this cutout portion ofthe mask is provided with awhite\border B while lthe remaining porti n is preferably .black or of'a very dark co or. l

Mounted in the box 11 of the camera beneath the frame 38 which carriesthe negative holding ,frame and the mask holdingr frame is a frame 53upon which four reflecting blades 54, 55, 56 and 57 are mounted. Theframe 53 is preferably removable from the box 11 and is preferably ofrectan gular shape. The blades 54 and 55 are longer than the blades 56and 57 and are mounted at their outer edges upon shafts 58 and 59 whichextend longitudinally along the side edges of the frame 53. One of theends of the shafts 58 and 59 are provided .with crank arms 60 and 61respectively. The blades 56 and 57 are mounted upon transverselyextending shafts 62 and 63, but the inner ends of-these blades 56 and 57rest upon the blades 54 and 55 so that the blades 56 and 57 will bemoved or adjusted by the blades 54 and 55.

Mounted upon one end of the frame 53 is a turnable knob` 64. The stem ofthis knob 64 extends into the interior part of the frame and carries anarm 65. The arm 65 is' secured at its intermediate lportion to the stemof the knob 64 and its ends are connected by links 66 and 67 to theswinging ends of the crank arms 60 and 61 respectively. With thisconstruction, whenever the knob 64 is turned, the arm 65 will be turnedand the links 66 and 67 will be pulled or pushed so as to swing thecrank arms 60 and 61 and the blades 54 and 55 and also the blades 56 and57. Thus, the opening 68 defined by the inner edgA of the blades 54, 55,56 and 57 may be varied in size.

In using as N should be placed'upon the glass plate 40 and held inposition thereon by means of the spring clips 41. The circuit to theelectric light bulb 12 should then be turned on so as to light the bulband the bracket frame 5 should be raised or lowered by hand until theimage projected through the negative and the lens 16 of the camera uponthe table 9 is of the size desired for the enlargement to be made. Thecounterweight 8 is of proper weight to exactly balance thev parts of theapparatus which are carried by the frame 5 so that when the latter hasbeen moved the apparatus, a negative such to the desired position, itwill stay in such position without any special locking means.

As the bracket frame 5 is raised orlowered to project an image of thedesired size upon the table 9, the lens 16 of the camera will beautomatically focused. This automatic focusing of the lens is broughtabout in the following manner:

In' the first lace, when the slide 4 is raised or lowe and in turning,it will turn the pinion 25, the shaft 24 and the worm- 23. The turningmovement of the worm 23 will impart a slow turning movement to the wormwheel 22 and a similar movement. will be imparted to the cam 31. The cam31 engaging the arm 32 carried by the lever 33 will swing the lever, andthe latter being coupled to the slide 17 by means of the link`35 and thelug 36 will cause the slide 17 to be moved vertically upon the rails 18and 19. Since the front 15 of the camera carrying the lens 16 isfastened to the slide 17, whenever the slide 17 is moved a corres ndingmovement will be imparted to the ens 16.

he pinions 25, 28, the Worm 23', the worm wheel 22, the cam 31 and thelever 33 are of mathematically computedl sizes so that exactly theproper amount of movement will be imparted to the lens 16 toautomatically maintain it focused as the camera is raised or lowered.

Of course, after the negative has been placed in the negative holder andthe camera has been adjusted so that an enlargement of the proper sizewill be made, a sheet of sensitized paper should be placed upon thetable 9 and the light 12 on so as to expose the sensitized paper for theproper length of time.

If it is desired to produce a tinted border upon the enlargement, thenbefore the sensitized paper is exposed, a mask M should be placed incontact with the glass plate 43 carried by the frame 42 and held incontact with the glass plate by means of the spring clips 52. By turningthe screw 50, the frame 42 may be adjusted toward and away from theframe 39, and by this means the degree of softness of the tintedborderproduced on the enlargement can be varied..

^The density or shade of the tinted border produced upon the enlargementcan also be varied. This, however, is done by turning the knob 64 so asto adjust the reflectors 54, 55, 56 and 57. These relectprs reflect thediffused light which passes around the edges of the negative back ontothe border B of themask M, and when the border B is yilluminated in thismanner, an image of it will be projected upon the sensitized paper toproduce the tinted border thereon. It is therefore obvious that theintensity of the light forming the .image of the border can the pinion28 which mesh- Ies with the stationary rack 30 will be turned should beturnedH be varied by varying the position of the reflectors.

Although the apparatus is provided with an' automatic focusing mechanismfor the lens, yet if desired, the lens can be focused by hand byoperatin the adjusting screw 20. This screw 20 is, iowever. 'primarilyintended to adjust the lens 16 after the link 35 has been coupled 'tothe lever 33. An adjustment of this nature may also be obtained byadjusting the upper end of the link 35 upon the swinging end of thelever 33. When the adjusting screw 2() is once adjusted, it is notnecessary to alter its adjustment unless it should be desired to focusthe lens by hand. l

Where it is desired to use the apparatus for lenses of diierent ocallengths, a special cam'31 should be provided for each lens. The cam 31is therefore removable andcan be replaced b Ya similar cam suited forwhatever lens 1s substituted forI the lens 16.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, use andoperation of theapparatus will be understood without further description.

It is apparent that numerous changes in form, proportion and in thevarious details of construction may be made without departing from thespirit and principle of the invention, and hence it is to be understoodthat changes of this nature may be made within the meaning and scope ofthe appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A photographic enlarging (apparatus comprising a supporting member, asensitized paper holder, an illuminating device, negative holder andlens mounted for sliding adjustment upon said supporting member, saidlens being movable toward and away from said negative holder, a swinginglever coupled to the mountin for the lens in such a manner as to move te lens toward and away from the negative holder, a cam for swinging saidlever to cause it to move the lens toward and away rom"the negativeholder, and gearing interposed between said supporting member' and saidcam for imarting movement -to said cam as saidilluminating device,negative holder and lens as aunit are moved upon said support-l ingmember. Y I

2. A photographic enlarging apparatus comprising an upright standard, abracket frame slidably .mounted for vertical movement upon saidstandard, a unit consisting ,of an illuminating device, negative holderand lens carried by said bracket frame, said lens being movable towardand away from said negative holder, a lever pivoted upon said bracketframe and operatively connected to the' mounting for said lens 1n such amanner as to move said lens toward and away from said negative holder, acam rotatably mounted upon said bracket frame and engaging said lever soas to move it and cause said lens to be moved toward and away from saidnegative holder, and gearing interposed between said standard and saidcam for driving the latter as said bracket frame is adjusted verticallyupon said standard.

3. A photographic enlarging apparatus comprising an upright supportingstandard, a bracket frame slidably mounted for vertical adjustment uponsaid standard, an illuminating device, negative holder and lensconstructed as a unit and carried by said frame, said lens being movabletoward and away from said negative holder, a lever pivotally mountedupon said frame and operatively connected with the mounting for saidlens in such a manner as to move the lens toward and away from saidnegative holder, a cam rotatably mounted upon said frame and engagingsaid lever in such a manner as to swing it and cause said lens to bemoved toward and away from said negative holder, a rack fixed upon saidstandard, a pinion carried by said frame and meshing with said rack insuch a manner that it will be rotated as said frame is ladjustedvertically upon said standard, and

gearing interposed between said pinion and said cam for impartingmovement from said pinion to said cam.

4. A photographic enlarging apparatus comprising an upright supportingstandard, a bracket frame slidably mounted for vertical adjustment uponsaid'standard, an illuminating device, a negative holder and a lensconstructed as a unit and carried by said frame, said lens being movabletoward and away from said negative holder, a lever pivoted upon saidframe, an adjustable connection between said lever and the mounting forsaid lens, a camv mounted upon said frame for swinging said lever, anddriving means for said cam, said driving means being geared to saidstandard in such a manner as to rotate said cam as said frame 1sadjusted vertically upon said standard.

5. In a photographic enlarging apparatus, the combination of a negativeholding frame, aframe for holding a mask for producing a tinted borrupon an enlargement, resilient means or securing the second frame to thefirst frame in such a manner as to permit the second frame to be movedtoward and away from the first frame, a pair of bars slidably mountedupon the first frame, cooperating cam means carried` by said bars andthe second frame for moving the latter toward and away from the firstframe as said bars are slid, a lever pivoted to the first frame andcoupled to mounted in said frame' upon its pivot.

saidbars so as to slide the latter longi-rg tudinally, and means forshifting said lever .enlarging apan illuminating lens on the op- 6. In aphotographic paratus, the combination of device, a negative holder, a

posite side of said negative holder from said illuminating device, aAframe for holding a maskyfor'producing a tinted border upon anenlargement disposed between said negative holder' and said lens, a maskv and having a light coloredA border surrounding the` opening therein, aplurality of swinging reflector blades disposed between said; frame andsaid lens and being adapted to reflect the light which passes around thenegative placed in said negative holder back onto the light coloredborder of said mask, the

ing, and means for adjusting the position of said blades so as to varythe size of said opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

PAUL FRANKOIS.

Inner edges of said blades defining an open`

